Photos From The Rancho California/Lake Skinner/Mountain Fire: October 26-27, 2003

Last updated December 21, 2004

The photos below show the fireline and smoke on Sunday, October 26th,
2003. The Mountain Fire,
as it's called by various media sources, apparently started around
11:45am Sunday and had consumed 10,000 acres of brush, damaging 6 homes
24 other structures as of 11am October 27th.
Many people have had to evacuate their homes in the fire's
path in the Temecula Valley wine country. The evacuation shelter was
the Temecula Valley High School gymnasium.

The pictures were contributed by Henry Rayna, Bob Hagel,
Robert De Armond, Wendy McIlvride, Ian Fawn-Meade, and Bethany Debus.

Tuesday, October 28th, 2003 updates:
According to local reports, favorable wind conditions have allowed firefighters
to 50% contain the Mountain Fire as of last night.
The fire's footprint did not increase yesterday afternoon or eventing at all.
The City of Temecula is reporting full containment of the fire this morning,
and is also reporting 31 residences destroyed.
Full control of the fire is expected on Thursday.

Wednesday, October 29th, 2003 updates:
According to The Californian this morning, 9,898 acres were burned and 21
houses, mobile homes and travel trailers were destroyed in the Mountain Fire.
At its height, 697 firefighters were on the front lines, and that number
had declined to 414 as of last night. The blaze is contained, and is
expected to be 100% surrounded today.

Wednesday, October 29th, 2003 updates:
New photos have been contributed, and show the spread of the fire Sunday.

November 12th, 2003 updates:
More photos have been contributed by Bethany Debus.

This picture, courtesy of NOAA, gives an enhanced satellite look as of 1pm October 26th of
Southern California wildfires. Note that the Temecula Valley's Mountain fire
would not have
been large enough to register as more than a pinprick at that point in time.
This
updated picture from 12:44pm October 27th clearly shows the Mountain Fire,
although it is not nearly as large as the other fires in the region.

The following photo was taken at 6:30pm October 26th, from
Glen Oak Hills and is courtesy of Robert De Armond

The following photos were taken October 26th, from
the Oak Ridge Ranches area and are courtesy of Ian Fawn-Meade

The following photos were taken October 26th, from
the Glen Oaks area at Glen Oaks and De Portola roads and are courtesy of
Bethany Debus

This photo was taken around 5:45pm October 26th, from
Rancho California and Anza Roads and is courtesy of Wendy McIlvride

The following photos were taken at 4:30pm October 26th, from
the Rancho Del Vista Area (Murrieta Hot Springs and Pourroy Road) and are
courtesy of Henry Rayna

The following photo was taken at 5:20pm October 26th, from
Paloma Del Sol and is courtesy of Bob Hagel

The Temecula weather pages are a service of WeatherCurrents. Temecula, California is located in the Temecula Valley, in southwestern Riverside County, along the Interstate 15 highway. The Temecula Valley's rolling hills are home to the Temecula wine country, vineyards, golf courses, a casino resort, and Old Town Temecula.